On 28/11, Da Nang City Police announced the indictment of 19 individuals for illegally providing or using computer network and telecommunications information, a violation under Article 288 of the Criminal Code. The Criminal Police Department is currently expanding its investigation to identify and pursue other involved parties.

Around 14h on 19/11, a joint operation by the Criminal Police Department, the Cyber Security Department, and Thanh Khe Ward Police raided an address at 1083-1085 Nguyen Tat Thanh in Thanh Khe ward. They found 63 individuals using computers, exhibiting signs of operating online betting platforms. All individuals were taken to the police headquarters for verification.

The company premises during the police inspection and bust. Photo: Da Nang Police

Initial investigations revealed that in 2019, Tran Le Duy, 42, residing in Thanh Khe ward, was hired by an unidentified woman based in Thailand or Cambodia. Duy was tasked with establishing and managing an information technology facility to execute technology projects provided by her.

Duy proceeded to recruit staff and establish facilities, engaging in programming, developing sports entertainment software, various game titles, and virtual currency transaction platforms. In 2022, he hired Le Cong Son, 37, also from Thanh Khe ward, and appointed him as a project manager.

In early 2023, Duy partnered with a Cambodian man named Torres to operate the betting websites. Duy's facility handled interface upgrades, created promotions and events, integrated deposit and withdrawal functions for both VND and virtual currency, and managed ongoing maintenance and bug fixes.

To evade detection, Duy rented offices and established a front as a technology company. This setup allowed him to recruit numerous personnel, optimize security, and create overseas chat groups. Employees were mandated to use aliases, work exclusively on company-issued computers, and refrain from using personal devices.

During the inspection, police discovered numerous folders containing programming code used for editing and upgrading the betting websites. Authorities subsequently inspected four other facilities linked to the operation, seizing 60 laptops, 356 monitors, 8 televisions, 5 safes, 5 money counting machines, two cars, and over 1,27 billion VND in cash. Notably, all 63 employees were university graduates, specializing in either information technology or finance and accounting.

Investigators determined that Duy and his associates structured their operation as a technology company, assigning specific tasks to different groups. Their objective was to build and update online gambling platforms, integrating payment methods via banks, e-wallets, and virtual currency for their Cambodian partners.

Ngoc Truong